In many cases, the end of the year gives you time to step back and take stock of the last 12 months. This is when many of us take a hard look at what worked and what did not, complete performance reviews, and formulate plans for the coming year. For me, it is all of those things plus a time when I u...

United
Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, issued
the following statement today regarding reports
that Swedish telecom giant Ericsson plans to extend its network in Iran
and has pledged to support MTN Irancell until 2021:

We condemn Ericsson’s plans to double down on its Iran business, and
urge it to completely pull out of Iran. Ericsson’s previous pledges to
scale back its Iran business and “conduct [its] business in a way that
is not directly or indirectly infringing on human rights” ring hollow
and disingenuous given recent revelations of its extensive long-term
work plans and profits it expects to earn.

Ericsson should under no circumstances be working with MTN Irancell. MTN
is a direct partner of the Iranian regime and has blood on its hands
from its involvement in spying on and tracking Iranian dissidents and
cutting off their means of communication during periods of political
protest.

In refusing to end its Iran business, Ericsson is exposing its partners
and shareholders to intolerable reputational risk. Instead of responding
to the concerns of the international community and taking the
responsible course of action, Ericsson has decided to mislead the public
about its intentions while increasing its involvement with the regime
and MTN – one of the least respected corporate entities in the world.

If Ericsson continues with this course of action, it will surely suffer
additional reputational and financial harm as well as increased scrutiny
from lawmakers. UANI and its supporters will call for the company to be
held accountable under U.S. sanctions law.

UANI has, since its 2008 founding, been urging Ericsson to end its Iran
business. In an April
letter to Ericsson, UANI called on it to “follow the lead of other
responsible global corporations and end its business activities in Iran,
particularly in light of the fact that technology provided by Ericsson
is being used to perpetrate terrible crimes against the people of Iran.”

In
August, UANI noted pledges from Ericsson to not conduct new business
in Iran and cease the provision of “lawful intercept” technology to the
regime, but called on Ericsson to completely pull out of Iran and end
any relationships with MTN Irancell.

Since 2000, Ericsson has received more than $200 million in contracts
from the U.S. Government, nearly all from the U.S. Department of Defense.

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